Device for measuring fluid flow.



W. LfMORRIS.

DEVICE FOR MEASURING FLUID FLOW.

APPLIoATIoN FILED Nov. 12,` 1903.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

, Toi-all 'whom'fit concern: i i r IlU'Njurnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAML. MORRIS, OF .'BATA'VIA1 ILLINOIS.

nEvIcE FORMEASURING FLUID FLOW.

Be it known that-I, W'ILLIAM L. MORRIS,

- a: citizen of the United States, resident of Batavia, county of Kane, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Devices vfor Measuring Fluid Flow, of which the following is a specification, .the principle of the invention being hereincxplained'and the best mode in whichA I have contemplated vapplying that principle, so. as to distinguish it from other in,

vent/ions. e

My invention relates `to means for measuring the low of' fluids, and particularly of water'. i.

. Ihe object of the.-invention is to provide means of this character which are economical of manufacture' and eliicient: in operation, and yit consists of means hereinafter fully. described and particularly set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting but one of various mechanical' forms in which the of the invention maybe used.

In 'said annexed drawing, the figure represents a vertical sectional view of a device Principle embodying my invention as particularly applied to the measurement of th'elow of water through a water main or conduit.

Two recelvlng chambers A and B are connected with each other' by means of an intermediate .duct 'c' which permits av flow of' liquid from one chamber to the other and v includes a Aremovable resistance portion 0 ance portion c" is in'a known ratio to that of a reduced cross-sectional area which is suitably. introduced into the intermediate connection c andA is removable therefrom.' The rate of liquid flow through'the resistthrough the conduit E, (hereinafter more fully described) and this ratio is preferably a .very-1 small fraction, say one-ten-thousandth, so that the liquid flow through the v connection @fis greatly retarded and considerable time would elapse before an equilibrium of pressure werel established. IIow-I ever, should an equilibrium of pressure be desired` quickly, or the operator desires to start the meter upon slome desired .graduation of the scale F (hereinafter described), this may be aorded by a by-pass H connecting the tops of the chambers A and B and provided with a suitable cock' h.

y Specication ofvLle'tters Patent. Patented Aug. 23, 1910. lApplication m'Nmrember 12,1903;- serial No. 180,822.

In the bottoms of the chambers A and B are formed openings a and b, respectively, to which openings are connected ducts a and 'b connected with a four-way valve D. Two

ducts a? and b2 lead 'from this valve D and tap a water main or conduit E at the points e and e', respectively. These points are longitudinally removed from each other and consequently lie in zones of different pressures. As illustrated in the drawing, considering the flow to be in thedirection indicated by the arrow, the pressure at e is greater'than that at e, so that water is caused to flow through duct b2, valve D, connection a chamber A, connection c, chamber B,connection b', valve D, and-'duct a2, in succession. If desired, in order to increase the sensitive'ness of the device, the ends of the-4 ducts a b2 may be made to project into the conduit ate and e', the former awayfrom thelatter toward the iiow When the meter has run through theentire amountV ofv the receiver, the direction of iiow through the the measuring fluid may be discharged into the line'E, which would require a reilling of the receiver every time the entire amount had run through. Suitable valves a3 and b3 are provided for controlling the ducts a2 and b2, respectively. When the chambers A and Bare not made of glass, suitable sight-tubes are provided and one such, a4 and b4, respectively, is shown connected with each of the chambers A and B, whereby the height of the liquid may be observed, and one form of scale F is shown for determining such height. ,A quantity of Huid of a different specific gravlty than that of the iiuid whose How is to be measured and which will stand out clearly defined from the latter .is introducedinto the chamber, oil having color distinct from that of water being used in the case illustrated. Water is introduced into the chambers so as,'in conjunction with the oil, to completely fill the same. The oil shown is of a less specific gravity than that of the fluid passing through the conduit E,

butifl a heavier fluid were used, as' might be scale for a meter that is to be used upon gallons,

lines E of'varying sizes and for the table of constant ratios used in connection with the same. In case the meter is to be made a fixture and used for one application only,

the pipe E, distance from e to e', and resistance portion c being constant at all times, the scale may be graduated in gallons, cubic feet or pounds of that liquid. In case of application to a steam line the graduations would give cubic feet and by noting the steam pressure and using the weight of steam at that pressure, the number of pounds of steam can be secured. The steam pressure that would be used would be the mean pressure as shown on a steam pressure recording gage.

Since the quantity of fluid flowing through the pipe c is always in direct proportion to that flowing through the main line E, it is necessary to secure the gradations upon the scale F. by calibratingthe meter, either with another meter or by some system of measuring, the graduations being, as noted above, eitherinches, cubic feet, gallons or pounds as may be desired, depending upon the service whether it be for water, gas, oil, or steam measurement. The scale F is so graduated that the graduations at the end of the scale in the direction of the .flow of the measuring liquid are slightly shorter than at the starting point, due to the fact that there ils a slightly variable resistance offered to the fiow through the shunt when the oil or sight lines in the tubes at and b* are on different levels. This difference is made very slight, however, by using a measuring fluid of a specific gravity not,differing.much from that of the iuid whose fiow is being measured. n 4

If the meter is permanently attached, each main division of the scale F might be considered, for example, to be one thousand this having been determined by actual demonstration. The actual flow through the shunt c may be only one-onehundredth .of a gallon, or, in other' words,l

the resistance to thefiow through c would be one hundred thousand times as great as that through E. The ratio of resistances being constant, and the velocity of flows the same, the readings on the scale F would either show the flow through E direct or the flow through c', and in the'l'atter case the use lof thelproper constant for the special' application woulddetermine the actual flow. It should be noted that the meter is not a continuously running device, but is adapted for periodic readings, preferably daily. In other words, while the main conduit permits the liquid `to pass in and out of it, the by-pass is designed to permit only of the movement of` that liquid contained within i itself. This result is attained by the con.-

struction of such by-pass'including ineifect two enlarged chambers that with the ducts connectingsuch chambers, respectively, with the main conduit afford relatively little or no resistance'to the flow of the liquid therethrough comparedrwith the resistance afforded by the resistance section c in the duct c connecting such chambers with each other. y

' Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed provided the means stated by any one of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed. I therefore particularly point out and dis'- tinctly claim as my invention:

l. In a fluid measuring device, a fluid conduit, a connection between two points of different pressure in said conduit, means for reversing the direction of flow through a portion of said connection, a fluid in such portion of said connection distinguishable from the fluid being measured, and means for observing the position of said distinguishable fluid.

2. In a fluid measuring device, a fluid conduit, a connection between points of different pressure in -said conduit, means for reversing the direction of fluid flow through a portion of said connection, a chamber 1n such portion of said connection, and means for measuring the displacement' of fluid from said chamber.

3. In a fluid measuring device, a fluid conduit, a connection betweenpoints of different pressure in said conduit, meansfor reversing the direction of fluid flow through a portion of said connection, and means for measuring the flow of fluid through such portion of said connection, such means comprising a chamber containin a fluid distinguishable from the fluid being measured.

4. In a fluid measuring device, two conduits for the fluid being measured; means for reversing the direction of fluid flow through a portion of oneof said conduits; and a' fiow, measuring device in such conduit portion, s'uch device comprising a chamber containing a fluid distinguishable from the fluid being measured; and means for maintaining in the two conduits the same relative resistancesl to the flow of` a fluid therethrough.

5.v In a fluid measuringdevice, a fluid conduit; a connectionv between two points of diiferentipressure in said conduit, said connection having a section offering a maximum resistance to the flow ofthe fluid; means for reversing the direction of fluid flow through said section land means for measuring the vflow through such section,

such iow bearing a known relation to the- 4a chambe'r in said secon conduit; a second conduit connected with said first conduit at points of different pressure, said second conduit having a section offering a maximum resistance to the flow of the fluid; means for reversing the direction of fluid flow through said section vand conduit containing a fluid distinguishable from the fiuid being measured.-

7. In a fluid' measuring device, a fluid'l conduit; a second conduit connected with said first conduit at points of different pressure, said second conduit having a section offering a maximum resistance to the How of the fluid; means for reversing the direction of fluid fiow through said section and a chamber in said second conduit containing a` fluid distinguishable from the fluid being measured and adapted to indicate the amount of such contained Huid displaced by the flow of such fiuid being measured.

8. In a fluid measurin device, a fiuid conduit, a chamber containing a fiuid distinguishable from the fluid in said conduit; ducts connecting said chamber with said conduit at points of different of said ducts having a section adapted to offer a maximum resistance to the fiow of fluid therethrough; and means for observing the amount of Huid in said chamber displaced by said flow, the relation of said flow to the flow in said conduit being known.

9. In a fluid measuring device, a fluid conduit; a chamber containing a fluid distinguishable from the fiuid in said conduit; ducts connecting said chamber with said conduit at points of dierent pressure, one of said ducts having a removable section adapted to offer a maximum resistance to the flow of such fiuid therethrough land means for observing the amount of the fluid in said chamber displaced by such fiow, the relation of such flow to the flow in said conduit being known.

10. The combination of a fluid conduit, two ducts leading therefrom from points of different pressure, two receiving chambers and meansA for determining the amount of uid flow therethrough, and a duct intermediate of such two chambers and includ*- ing. a resistance portion of reduced crosssection, said two ducts, chambers and intermediate duct being connected in series.

l1. The combination of a liquid conduit, two ducts leading therefrom from points of different pressure, two receiving chambers, a quantity of liquid inA said chambers of a specific gravity less than that of the liquid to be measured, sight-tubes connected with such chambers for noting the volume of such lighter fluid, and a duct intermediate of such two chambers, such two ducts, chamb ers and intermediate duct connected in series.

12. The combination of a liquid conduit, 6.5 two ducts leading therefrom from points of different pressure, two receiving chambers, a quantity of liquid in said chambersdistin-y guishable from the liquidy to be measured, sight-tubes connected with such chambers for noting the volume of such latter liquid contained therein, and a duct intermediate of such two chambers, such two ducts, chamb ers and intermediate duct connected in series.

13. The combination with a fiuid conduit, of two ducts connected therewith at points of different pressure, and two receiving chambers adapted to be reversibly connected in series wit-h said two ducts, such chambers containing a quantity of fluid distinguishable from the fluid being measured, and being constructed to indicate the amount of such contained liquid displaced by the liquid being measured.

14. The combination with a fluid conduit, of tWo ducts connected therewith at points of different pressure; two chambers containing a quantity of fluid distinguishable from the fluid being measured; a duct joining said two chambers; and means for reversibly connecting said chambers in series with sa1d first named ducts whereby t-he liquid contained in said chambers may be alternately displaced from one to the other there- `of by the fiow of the liquid being measured,

such chambers being constructed to indicate the amount of the liquid so displaced.

` 15@ The combination with a fluid conduit,

of two ducts connected therewith at points of different pressure; two chambers containing a quantity of fiuid distinguishable from the fluid being measured; a duct joining said two chambers and offering a resistance to the flow of vliquid therethrough of a known relation to the resistance oered by said conduit; and means for reversibly connecting said chambers in series with said first named ducts whereby the liquid contained in said chambers may be alternately displaced from one to the other thereof by the flow.of the liquid bein measured, such chambers being constructe to indicate the amount of the fluid so displaced.

Signed by me, this 7th day of November, 115

WILLAM L. MORRIS. Attested by- GRACE PETERS, ARTHUR T. LONG. 

